Liquid delivering device



NW0 I3, 1956 J. L. RYDE 2,770,363

LIQUID DELIVERING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l TO PUMP JNVENTOR.

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JOHN L. RYDE BY Mafia. 40

United States Patent LIQUID DELIVERING DEVICE John L. Ryde, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to McCulloch Motors Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 15, 1953, Serial No. 361,458

11 Claims. (Cl. 21046) This invention relates to liquid supply systems, and more particularly to a novel fuel supply system wherein fuel is transferred from a fuel supply chamber to a delivery chamber by means of a novel capillaceous body.

It is an object of the invention to provide novel means for delivering liquid from a first chamber to a second chamber at a flow rate which is substantially independent of the amount of liquid in the first chamber.

it is an object of the invention to provide novel means for delivering liquid from a first chamber to a second chamber by means of a capillary device which is operative in any position of the chambers.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel capillaceous means for absorbing liquid fuel in a first chamber and conducting it to a second chamber at a flow rate which is substantially independent of the level of the fuel in the first chamber.

-It is another object of the invention to provide a novel capillaceous member for filtering liquid as it is conducted by the capillaceous member from a first chamber to a second chamber.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel means operative upon a capillaceous member for preventing air from being dnawn from a supply chamber into a delivery chamber to which liquid is being delivered by the capillaceous member.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple capillaceous member for preventing air from being drawn from a supply chamber into a delivery chamber to which liquid is being delivered by the capillaceous member.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple capillaceous means engaged by structure adjacent a liquid receiving chamber in such a way that liquid may be drawn into the receiving chamber through the capillacious means with minimum impedance to flow while at the same time air will not be drawn into the receiving chamber.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel fuel delivering device wherein pressure fluctuations generated in the crankcase of a two-stroke cycle engine effect a flow of fuel through a capillaceous member from a fuel supply tank to a fuel delivery chamber and thence to a pressurized fuel delivery conduit or line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly and fully from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the capillaceous member of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the complete fuel supplying device of the present invention;

2,770,363 Patented Nov. 13, 1956 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5 and Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated an outer housing 10 which encloses a first fuel chamber 11 in which liquid fuel is stored for use in an internal combustion engine, not shown. Positioned Within chamber 11 and integrally formed as a component part of housing 10 is a second housing 12 which comprises a cylindrically shaped fixed wall member 13 and a movable wall member .14. Wall members 13 and 14 together enclose a chamber 15 to which fuel is delivered from chamber 11. Wall member 13 forms an annular chamber and its end forms an annular rib 18.

Positioned within chamber 15 is a post or stem 16 projecting leftwardly from wall portion 17 to a point adjacent a plane defined by the annular end face 18 of the fixed wall member 13. The post 16 is drilled to receive an adjusting bolt 19 the head 20 of which engages a washer 21 which sea-ts against shoulder 22. The threaded end 28 of bolt 19 engages a nut or cap 24. A thin disc spring is fastened on the cap 24 and extends outwardly therefrom radially co-extensive with the cylindrical wall member 13. The nut or cap 24 and disc spring 25 together comprise the movable wall member 14.

A means for conducting fuel or liquid from chamber 11 to chamber 15 is provided and comprises a capillaceous member such as the fiat absorbent wick 30. The wick illustrated includes a plurality of thin sheets of felt 31a, 81b, and 316 which are held adjacent one another by the disc spring 25. Each sheet 31 of felt comprises a rectangular layer large enough to extend across chamber 11 and preferably to and along the upper wall portion 32 and lower wall portion '33 so that the wick will be in contact with liquid in chamber 11, at all liquid levels.

The wick has a hole 35 cut therethrough near its center portion so that it may be fitted over post 16 in its mounted position. The threaded cap 24 carrying the disc spring 25 is drawn into engagement with the end 16a of the post 16 by tightening the bolt 19, and at the same time the disc spring 2 5 is carried into proper compressive relation or engagement with the annular portion 37 of the wick 30 lying between the annular end face 1% of fixed wall member 13 and the disc spring 25. It will be seen that a small areal portion 38 of the wick 30 lies inside chamber 15 and that the major areal portion of the wick lies outside chamber 15 and extends to and along wall portion of chamber 11.

Chamber 1'5 communicates by means of an outlet port 40 with an outlet duct 41, from which liquid is drawn by a pump, not shown. When the pump is operating, reduced pressure exists in chamber 15 so that a pressure difference exists between chambers 11 and 15. Liquid is then picked up by the wick 30 in chamber 11 and flows from all portions of the wick toward the portion 38 of the wick-lying within chamber 15. In flowing toward chamber 1'5 through the wick, fluid must necessarily pass through the annular portion 37 of the wick which is compressed between disc spring 225 and the flat end 16a of post 16. It is pointed out that the annular portion 37 of the wick must be compressed sufiiciently to form an air seal between chambers 11 and 15 so as to preclude the entrance of air from chamber 11 into chamber 15; yet wick portion 37 must not be compressed beyond that point where liquid ceases to flow freely through the wick from chamber 11 to chamber 15. It has been found that for the same pressure drop from chamber 11 to chamber 15 and for the same compressive pressure exerted on the annular portion of the Wick. 37, more liquid will flow from chamber 11 to chamber 1 5 in a given length of time if the diameter of the annular portion 37 of the wick is increased. Therefore, the diameter of section 37 is made large enough to obtain the desired rate of flow of liquid at the. average pressure difference existing between chambers I l and 15.

It is further noted that the wick itself acts as a filtering or straining means for the fluid being drawn from chamber 11 to chamber 1'5. When particles of grit or other solid substances foreign to the fluid are suspended in the fluid in tank 11, they may be drawn into engagement with the surface of the wick 30, but will be unable to enter the body of the wick along with the fluid, and so will be precluded from entering the delivery chamber 15. Thus fluid delivered to chamber Will be free from solid impurities. Furthermore, the Wick remains free from particle clogging since the wick area exposed to fluid flow is large and smooth, preventing entrapment, and also because the impurities are washed or cleared off the wick by the movement of the liquid within chamber 11.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a fuel delivery device which includes a wick type fuel delivery system as an integral component thereof. The fuel delivery device includes two cast housing members 51 and 52 which are joined together and enclose a chamber 53. Housing member 52 has .a boss 54 formed therein which projects into chamber 53, and a walled member 55 and a plate 56 are fastened to boss 54 by means of screws 57. A flexible diaphragm 58 is retained between members 54 and 56, and intermediate member 56 has a dished surface 59 spaced from diaphragm 58 to define a passage 60 lying therebetween.

Another diaphragm 61 is positioned between member 55 and 56 and has formed thereon a pair of valves such as reed valves 62 and 63. Valve 62 is positioned between ports 64 and 65 and is adapted to bend toward beveled surface 66 formed on intermediate member 56. Valve 63 is positioned between ports 67 and 68 and is adapted to bend or flex toward wall 69 of member 55.

Projecting leftwardly from fixed wall member 55 is a cylindrically shaped wall 70 forming a housing for a delivery chamber 71. Also projecting leftwardly from wall member 55 into chamber 71 is a post 72 the outer end portion 73 of which forms a guide and a lateral retaining means for a movable wall member such as cap 74. The cap has a boss 75 formed thereon which is recessed to receive the end portion 73 of the post 72. Cap 74 is urged toward wall member 70 by resilient means such as helical compression spring 76, which is fitted over the boss 75. The opposite end of the spring is fitted.

over a boss 77 formed on the inside of the wall 78 of housing 51.

' The cap 74 is urged rightwardly to engage and to exert pressure against the annular portion 79 of a wick 80 lying between the annular cap wall or rib 8 2 and the end face or rib 83 of cylindrical wall 70. The wick 80 includes two sheet like c'apillaceous members 84 and 85 each of which is similar in shape to those described in another portion of this specification. Each of the capillaceous members is a thin two-dimensionally elongated body which extends across chamber 53 and along opposite walls of the chamber. Thus the wick 80 will have a portion thereof in contact with liquid at all liquid levels. The wick 80 also includes a small portion 86 thereof lying within delivery chamber 71.

'When pressure fluctuations such as those existing within the crankcase 87 of a two-stroke cycle engine (not shown) are transmitted to the diaphragm 58, the latter will vibrate back and forth setting up pressure fluctuations with-in passage 60 and ports 65 and 67, whereby reed valve 62 will open and valve 63 will shut when diaphragm 58 moves rightwardly, and valve 62 will shut and valve 63' will open when diaphragm 58 moves leftwardly. When valve 62 is opened, reduced pressure will exist in chamber 71 and as a result liquid will be drawn from chamber 53 through the wick 80 and into delivery chamber 7 1. Cap 74 is urged rightwardly' to exert a pressure on the annular portion 79 of the wick sufficient to prevent air from being drawn into chamber 7-1 at the minimum pressure existing within chamber 71. Liquid drawn into chamber 71 passes through ports 64 and 65 and into passage 60 when reed valve 62 is open. Liquid is forced from passage 60 through ports 67 and 68 and out delivery duct 90 when reed valve 62 is shut and valve 63 is open. Thus there is provided a novel non-clogging fuel delivery device operated by means of pressure fluctuations, which remains fully operative no matter what level of fuel exists in the fuel tank.

I claim:

1. In a liquid delivering device: a liquid supply chamber; wall members enclosing a second chamber, said members including a fixed wall member having an annular rib and an impervious movable wall member; absorbent means communicating with said two chambers; said means including a portion disposed between said annular rib and said movable wall member; means for urging said movable wall member toward said annular rib, said means including a compression spring disposed within said liquid supply chamber, whereby air is prevented from being drawn into said second chamber from said liquid supply chamber, and an outlet from said second chamber adjacent the base of said fixed wall member.

2. In a liquid delivering device: a liquid supply chamber; wall members enclosing a second chamber, said members including a fixed impervious wall member having an annular rib and an impervious movable flat spring disc member; absorbent means communicating with said two chambers, said means including a portion disposed between said annular rib and said disc member; adjustable means for urging said fiat spring. member toward said absorbent means to prevent air from being drawn into said second chamber from said liquid supply chamber, and an outlet from said second chamber adjacent the base of said fixed wall member.

'3. In a liquid delivering device: a liquid supply chamber; wall members enclosing a second chamber, said members including a fixed impervious wall member having an annular rib and an impervious movable wall member; absorbent me'ans communicating with said two chambers, said means including a portion disposed between said annular rib and movable wall members; means for urging said movable wall member toward said annular rib to compress said portion of the absorbent means disposed therebetween, and an outlet from said second chamber adjacent the base of said fixed wall member.

4. In a fuel pick-up device, in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet therefrom including a wall forming an annular rib and having a central stem, said wall being. impervious; a capillary wick member in the chamber; and impervious means including a spring retaining an annular portion of the said member against the end portion of said annular rib whereby liquid traversing the outlet means passes through said portion of the wick member, and between the side walls of said annular rib and central stem, and said wall having an outlet port at the bottom thereof.

5. In a fuel pick-up device, in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet therefrom including a wall forming an annular rib; a capillary wick member in the chamber; impervious means including a spring retaining an annular portion of the said member against the end portion of said annular rib means forming a guide positioned centrally of said annular rib extending through an opening in said wick member and cooperating with said retaining means, said guide means and retaining means being in relatively slidable relationship, and said wall having an outlet port at the bottom thereof.

6. In a fuel pick-up device, in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet therefrom including an impervious wall forming an annular rib and: having a central stem; a capillary wick member in the chamber; impervious means including a spring retaining an annular portion of the said member against the end portion of said annular rib whereby liquid traversing the outlet means passes through said portion of the wick member, said spring being in the form of a resilient disc; and means for variably adjusting the pressure of the disc against said wick portion, said retaining means having guiding cooperation with said central stem, and said wall having an outlet port at the bottom thereof.

7. In a fuel pick-up device, in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet therefrom including a wall forming an annular rib and having an integral stem; a capillary wick member in the chamber; impervious means including a spring retaining a portion of the said member against the peripheral portion of the annular rib, said retaining means having cooperation with said central stem; and said wall having an outlet port at the bottom thereof; and means including a check valve associated with said outlet port adapted to be connected to a fluctuating source of suction for withdrawing fuel from said outlet port.

8. In a fuel pick-up device, in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet therefrom including a wall forming an annular rib and having an integral central stem; a capillary Wick member in the chamber; impervious means including a spring retaining a portion of the said member against the peripheral portion of the annular rib, said retaining means having cooperation with said central stem, and said wall having an outlet port at the bottom thereof; and means forming a diaphragm chamber including a diaphragm having one side adapted to be exposed to a fluctuating source of suction for actuating the diaphragm, said diaphragm chamber having connections with said outlet port including valve means for pumping fuel from said fuel chamber through said portion of the wick member.

9. In a fuel pick-up device in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet from the fuel chamber comprising an impervious annular rib, said annular rib having a central stem so that an annular chamber is formed around the stem; a capillary wick member in the fuel chamber; means including an impervious closure member arranged to retain an annular portion of said wick member against the end portion of the said annular rib whereby liquid passing from the fuel chamber into the said annular chamber passes through said portion of the wick member, and said rib having an outlet port at the bottom thereof, said retaining means comprising resilient means and said retaining means having guiding cooperation with said central stem in said annular rib.

10. In a fuel pick-up device in combination: a fuel chamber; means forming an outlet therefrom comprising a central stern and an integral surrounding portion forming an annular rib; a capillary wick member in the chamber; means including an impervious closure member having a complementary annular" rib arranged to retain an annular portion of the said wick member against the aforesaid annular rib to form an annular chamber said integral portion and said closure member, whereby liquid passing from the fuel chamber to the outlet must pass through the said portion of the wick member into the said annular chamber; and means for retaining the said closure member in position comprising a central portion having cooperation with said central stem.

11. As an article of manufacture, a liquid transfer device adapted to form an outlet from a liquid chamber comprising: means comprising a central stem having an impervious surrounding portion forming an annular rib; a capillary wick member; means including an impervious closure member having a complementary annular rib arranged to retain an annular portion of the said wick member against the aforesaid annular rib to form an annular chamber between said impervious portion and said closure member whereby liquid passing from the said chamber to the outlet must pass through the said portion of the wick member into the said annular chamber; and means for retaining the said closure member in position comprising a central portion having coopera' tion with said central stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 250,418 Bonnefin Dec. 6, 1881 311,452 Tupper Jan. 27, 1885 2,455,486 Hicks Dec. 7, 1948 2,598,147 Tesc-her May 27, 1952 

